Brioche French Toast

I was never a big fan of french toast growing up. My parents made it with Wonder Bread and it was too mushy; I'm really big on texture. However, I have grown quite fond of bread pudding and this french toast is basically bread pudding in sliced form.

Ingredients [serves 4]:
1 loaf brioche, sliced thick
½ cup milk
½ cup cream
1 egg
2 tablespoons sugar
pinch salt
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon lemon zest
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons butter, melted

Start by slicing up a loaf of brioche nice and thick. I like to cut off the butts and eat them as a pre-breakfast snack. Lightly toast the brioche just to get rid of some of the moisture so that the slices can soak up more of the custard.

In a wide, shallow dish (I used one of my DIY casserole dishes), add the milk, cream, sugar, egg, spices, and vanilla extract and give it a good whisk. Then, drizzle in the butter and whisk to combine.

Dip the brioche slices in the custard for 30 seconds to make sure the bread is soaked through.

Cook the french toast on a hot griddle over medium heat for about three minutes on each side until golden brown and crisp.

Serve immediately dusted with icing sugar, with a generous pat of butter, and pure maple syrup.

This french toast is decadent and delicious. The edges are crisp, the spices are warming and delicious - the hint of lemon is divine, and the brioche is light and fluffy. It's exactly like eating a personal-sized bread pudding.

Here's the recipe page: